Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-05-27
Letter Of Resignation.

Letter of Resignation.
By request We publish below the letter Of
Rev G. F. Williams to the V.stry Of this Pr
lsh, resigning his pastorate. ln the letter the
Reverued gentlemen refers in chaste and earn
est language to the very amicable relations
whieh has always existed between himself and
the Vesiry, and also TO the very kind and courte-
Gus treatment uniformly rendered him by our
people, regardless OF sect, among whom the
past eight years of his lie have been spent.
The letter will be read with interest and grati-
6caton by all:
REcToRy OF PoRr TOBACCO PARISH, May, 1887
Mv Gear Brethren and Friends of the Vestry
IF Port Te6arco Parish:
The time has come " ben feel must
sever my rectorial relations with this parish
After nearly eight and half years Of uninter-
ruytcd peace and kindness, and great spiritual
prosperity, an election has come to me to an :
other parish which, after full consideration, |
have concluded to accept. That parish is Christ
Church, Washing ton city.
Our mutual relations as Rector and Vestry-
men have always been of the kindest most con-
siderate, forbeariRg. courteous and conhdlng
character. Ny every effort for the spiriual and
material advance raent of this parish has always
met With your kind and unquestioning ap
proval and wherever faGre has attended any
one of such efforts, that failure was never the
result Of any word or act OF encouragement on
the part Of any mem!er of your honorable
body.
In the homes of this parish, even OF the
humblest of our co!ored men bers, and of those,
indeed, not of the church, into which have
rome | have always been received with the
mos, courteous and aftctionste respect. Even
hara hf, ,. .1G
in the many years that God has spared them to
live, | have been treated with unvarying de-
gree of respect and affection, which has i'm
pressed me most deeply, and even humbled me.
1t seldom falls to the lot clergyman: leav-
ing parish 10 which much work, in spiritual
and material sense, has been done tor Our
Blessed Saviour to be able to feel and know
aad say as be is witbdr4 wing, that he leaves
peace and friendship towards him, and from
him, towards all its members. You received
me with an aff.ctionale welcome Of respect and
confidence | believe-I know, that | depart
with that affection respect and confidence, un-
diminished In the slig htest degree.
Nv love and interest in the families of thi:
parish can never abate and hope TO carry thi.
feeling for you all into the Eternal Home o
God, if, in His Infinite mercy, | be counted, a.
last, " or,by to be saved through the blood o
His Blessed Son. | hope, as long as live, te
keep up such relations with you all, that ma,
be permitted to come occasionally into your
midst and Break Bread with you ia ths
Sanctuary, and, in the lower sense, with yeu
also IN your homes. In your social nd religi-
Gus treainent of me, your retiring pastor, YOU
are an honor, not only to the Diocese, but to
the whole Church of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. As ! can never forget it, so
shall never cease to speak Of it, wherever may
60.
How it grieves me to leave here none Of you
can ever know fully, ia this life. May the
blessings of peace and unity abide here nd
the riches of the grace of God, the Father. Son
and Holy Ghost, decend upon, and ever remain
with, each and every one of you, personally
and in your family relations, and upon every
member Of this parish, is the most earnest
prayer of your loving ana devoted, and ever
lobe loving and devoted friend and brother, in
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
GILBERT F. WILLIAMS.